• is sent when an Order is established and whenever the party’s employment changes.
• directs an employer who has a family health care coverage option available to the party who is an employee, to enroll the child(ren) from the court case.
• takes immediate effect.
• will be sent to the party’s current and subsequent employers.
• may be contested by requesting an administrative review by the Friend of the Court, but only on the basis of whether or not the health care coverage is available at a reasonable cost. Note: there is no need to contest if the employer does not provide coverage or if the children are already enrolled in the employer’s family health care program.
• requires the parties to be notified of the enrollment and advise the custodial parent of the coverage and how to use it.

The National Medical Support Notice and Instructions are available upon request from the Friend of the Court.

REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF HEALTHCARE EXPENSES
You may submit a request for healthcare expenses that are less than one year old from the date of service if the other parent fails to respond to your informal request. IF “ordinary medical expenses” are included in your Support Order, total expenses must exceed the stated amount in your Order ($289 or $345 per child per calendar year) before you may submit a claim. Ordinary medical expenses include insurance co-payments and deductibles, and most uninsured medical related costs for all children in the case. The term “medical” includes treatments, services, equipment, medicines, preventative care, similar goods and services associated with oral, visual, psychological, medical, and other related care provided or prescribed by a health care professional for the child(ren). (2008 Michigan Child Support Formula Manual 3.04(A)(1). Routine remedial care costs (e.g. first aid supplies, cough syrup, and vitamins) do not qualify as medical expenses. (2008 Michigan Child Support Formula Manual 3.04(A)(2).

Procedures for Submitting Your Claim:

LIST OF ORDINARY HEALTH CARE EXPENSES: If you are required to meet an annual ordinary medical expense threshold amount pursuant to your support order ($289 or $345 per child per calendar year), you will need to provide the other party with a list and copy of the receipts for your total ordinary medical expenses once you have met that requirement.

If there is no provision for ordinary medical expenses in your support order, it is not necessary to complete a list of ordinary health care expenses. Please refer to your most recent Uniform Child Support Order for verification.

If you are a non-custodial parent according to your Court Order, it is not necessary for you to meet an annual ordinary medical expense threshold before requesting health care reimbursement because this expense is already incorporated in your child support obligation.

REQUEST FOR HEALTH CARE EXPENSE PAYMENT:

You may submit a request for healthcare expenses that are less than one year old from the date of service if the other parent fails to respond to your informal request. IF “ordinary medical expenses” are included in your Support Order, total expenses must exceed the stated amount in your Order ($289 or $345 per child per calendar year) before you may submit a claim. Ordinary medical expenses include insurance co-payments and deductibles, and most uninsured medical related costs for all children in the case. The term “medical” includes treatments, services, equipment, medicines, preventative care, similar goods and services associated with oral, visual, psychological, medical, and other related care provided or prescribed by a health care professional for the child(ren). (2008 Michigan Child Support Formula Manual 3.04(A)(1). Routine remedial care costs (e.g. first aid supplies, cough syrup, and vitamins) do not qualify as medical expenses. (2008 Michigan Child Support Formula Manual 3.04(A)(2).

Procedures for Submitting Your Claim:

LIST OF ORDINARY HEALTH CARE EXPENSES: If you are required to meet an annual ordinary medical expense threshold amount pursuant to your support order ($289 or $345 per child per calendar year), you will need to provide the other party with a list and copy of the receipts for your total ordinary medical expenses once you have met that requirement.

If there is no provision for ordinary medical expenses in your support order, it is not necessary to complete a list of ordinary health care expenses. Please refer to your most recent Uniform Child Support Order for verification.

If you are a non-custodial parent according to your Court Order, it is not necessary for you to meet an annual ordinary medical expense threshold before requesting health care reimbursement because this expense is already incorporated in your child support obligation.

REQUEST FOR HEALTH CARE EXPENSE PAYMENT:
Once you have exceeded your annual ordinary medical amount ($289 or $345 per child per calendar year), if included in your Uniform Child Support Order, list all of your additional out-of-pocket expenses on the Request for Health Care Expense Payment form. Send your completed “request” form to the other parent along with the copies of all the bills and receipts. Allow at least 28 days for the other parent to make a payment directly to you or to make payment arrangements with you. Payment arrangements shall be in writing, signed and dated by both parties.

As an example:

Child Receiving Service	Medical Provider Name	Service Date	Service Type	Total Medical Cost	Amount Paid by Insurance	Balance Due	Obligor's %	Amount Owed by Obligor
Jane	Dr. Smith	1/25/11	Orthodontics	$4,000	$1,000	$3,000	50%	$1,500
John	Dr. Jones	3/19/11	Prescription co-pay	$10			50%	$5

In the event that the other parent fails to pay or make payment arrangements for his/her portion of the expenses within 28 days, then thereafter, you must complete the Complaint form and send the entire form along with a copy of your Request for Health Care Expense Payment form, all the bills and receipts to the Friend of the Court. Your submission will be reviewed, signed, dated and mailed to the parties. The party being requested to reimburse the medical expense then shall have 21 days from the date the Complaint is signed by the Friend of the Court staff member to submit a written objection as to why the requested amount should not be added to their medical account. If objections are received by the Friend of the Court Office within the appropriate time, a hearing will be scheduled before a Referee and both parties will be notified of the hearing date.

Pursuant to Michigan law (MCL 552.511a), Friend of the Court will send copies of your documentation to the other parent along with an Objection and Request for Hearing form. If the other parent fails to object within the 21 day time period, the expenses may be added to the medical reimbursement account at the Friend of the Court and enforced as an arrearage. If the other parent files a timely objection to your Complaint, the Friend of the Court will schedule a hearing and send notice of the hearing date to both parties.

Additional Request and Complaint forms are available at the Friend of the Court office located at 210 S Highlander Way, Suite 3, Howell Michigan 48843 or at http://co.livingston.mi.us/CircuitCourtClerk/forms.htm